Rodriguez Wins Stage 10 of Giro and Takes Maglia Rosa

News & Results

Rodriguez Wins Stage 10 of Giro and Takes Maglia Rosa

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) is the leader of the Giro d'Italia 2012.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) is the leader of the Giro d'Italia 2012. The Katusha rider bolted away from the field in the last 150 m to win Stage 10, a rolling, 186-km ride from Civitavecchia to Assisi in 4:25:05. Bartosz Huzarski (NetApp) outsprinted Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) for second at 0:02.

The break of the day formed in the first 10 km. Guillaume Bonnafond (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Miguel Mínguez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Francesco Failli (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), Matthias Brandle (NetApp), and Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM) escaped and forged a lead that maxed out at about 5 minutes. That was approximately where the gap stayed until about 90 km, when the peloton began grinding away at it.

With 64 km remaining, the break led the Katusha-led bunch by 2:00. With 30 km left, Bonnafond, Minguez, and Failli dropped their three companions. Brandle, Keizer, and Stef Clement (Rabobank) attempted to rejoin the leaders, but their efforts did them no good. With 5 km to go, the peloton reeled in all of the escapees.

On the first of two climbs to Assisi, Tom Slagter (Rabobank) attacked and was reeled in. On the descent, Rigoberto Uran (Sky) and John Gadret (Ag2r-La Mondiale) attacked. The pair was caught with just over a km left.

In the overall, Rodriguez leads Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) by 0:17 and Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) by 0:32. Stage 11, the longest stage of this year's Giro d'Italia, will not change this state of affairs. The flat, 255-km run from Assisi to Montecatini Terme should end in a bunch sprint. Who will take it? Mark Cavendish (Sky)? Matthew Goss (GreenEdge)? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!

Watch video highlights from all stages of the 2012 Giro d'Italia in our video section (U.S. only) and follow Roadcycling.com on Twitter and Facebook.